Author
Topic: burning in silver cables? (Read 5815 times)

There's a post on Oades about this. I am learning new stuff all the time and never heard of "breaking in" (burning in) a set of cables. I got some new Zaollas XLR>XLR, XLR>RCA in Dec. and wonder how I could break them in without having to actually use them at a show. Can anyone help me out? I'd appreciate any help!

Logged

jpschust

hook em up, let them run for a few hours. normal burn in time is 24 hrs, but i feel like you could get away with a lot less. its really not crucial, but there is some difference. if you arent listening on a killer home system i highly doubt you will hear it, but by seeing your killer rig, you might :-)

jpschust

you dont even have to hook it up in front of your stereo, throw the gain on your pre way up and just let it record ambient sounds. doesnt really matter, you just wanna get some electricity passing through there.

Logged

ClevelandMike

There's a post on Oades about this. I am learning new stuff all the time and never heard of "breaking in" (burning in) a set of cables. I got some new Zaollas XLR>XLR, XLR>RCA in Dec. and wonder how I could break them in without having to actually use them at a show. Can anyone help me out? I'd appreciate any help!

yes, wait until saturn and venus are in line with the sun, that'll help too.

Break In” is not a proven audible or measurable phenomenon. The perception of changes in sound quality with time is likely attributable to the classical placebo effect, i.e., a listener anticipating a possible audible difference is predisposed to hear one whether or not it exists. Note that Audioquest isn't the only exotic cable vendor that claims cables “Break In”. This is actually quite a popular myth touted by many other exotic cable vendors and cable forum cult hobbyists alike.

jpschust

Mike, I've read all the things that say its a myth and all the things that say its not, however here's the thing that article doesn't account for. by exposing the cables initially to current flow you basically begin the possability for good oxidation (note some cables oxidize better than others). Listen, it's not gonna affect the sound THAT much, but oxidation does help or impede current flow based upon the material oxidizing.

Logged

ClevelandMike

Mike, I've read all the things that say its a myth and all the things that say its not, however here's the thing that article doesn't account for. by exposing the cables initially to current flow you basically begin the possability for good oxidation (note some cables oxidize better than others). Listen, it's not gonna affect the sound THAT much, but oxidation does help or impede current flow based upon the material oxidizing.

"burning in silver cables" the entire point of silver cables is that silver is less prone to oxidation, also that silver has less resistance, higher impedence/better current flow. introducing current into the conductor will have no given effect on oxidation.

i may not know how to drive a stick shift, but i've been a phone man for years, i do know how conductors work.

2 factors *IF ANYTHING* that would have any effect is the difference in temperature. as the conductor temperature rises resistance drops, meaning more flow. a good example that uses this is a thermocouple in a furnace. the pilot goes out, the tc no longer is heated from a flame, the resistance rises, triggering the furnace to cut off the flow of gas.

lets say the manufacturer of the conducter introduces an oil or something else the the exterior of the conductor to inhibit oxidation during transit it is possible but not likely that it would impede contact until the conducters were heated, in a way "burning" or evaporating the oil or whatever coating off. as far as i know this is not done , even if so the plausability of such a coating impeding conductivity is not likely.

i can see it now: "come on brah, we're gonna get in late" "no man, my cables were in my cold trunk all day i gotta get em warmed up first"

Logged

jpschust

hahaha good info mike. yah i was thinking more along the lines of when copper cable oxidizes it actually becomes a better conductor over time, but we are takling silver cable here so render my point null and void :-)

I let brand-spanking new headphones play for 10 hrs out of superstition (and speakers if I ever had got any new ones). Everything else gets hooked up to be tested but I don't let it sit and run just cause I can.

Logged

"This is a common practice we have on the bus; debating facts that we could easily find through printed material. It's like, how far is it today? I think it's four hours, and someone else comes in at 11 hours, and well, then we'll... just... talk about it..." - Jeb Puryear

I burn my cables by sitting on them and farting.. I find that the low end is much better but the sound stage suffers.. I also use the booster cable jumper method.. I make some adapters that are XLR to Giant clamps and boost a few cars with the cables, then they are well broken in. I find the sound stage is much better then my fart method. I would caution it does take hours of driving around looking to find stranded motorists that need a boost. But its well worth the extra effort. The great Kazoo taught me that method.